Using wicking material to collect liquid for transport

ABSTRACT

A container for collecting liquid for transport, includes a shell having a port adapted for receiving tubing and configured to define a chamber that has a window in an exterior surface of the shell. The window is so positioned that when a wicking material, which is adapted to be applied against a particular source of moisture and which is so dimensioned that when the wicking material is received within the shell and applied through the window to the particular source of moisture, the shell is at least partially closed so that when tubing is inserted through the port into the shell chamber and the shell is otherwise closed a partial vacuum can be created within the shell chamber to draw moisture into the shell chamber through the wicking material for collection as a liquid within the shell chamber for transport from the shell chamber via the tubing. A wicking material applicator includes a material having openings and formed to define an extended hollow framework about which the wicking material can be, or is, disposed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/171,968, filed on 2 Jun. 2016, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally pertains to using wicking material to collectliquid for transport and is particularly directed to a container thatcan be used to so collect a liquid, such as urine, from the body of aperson or an animal in such a manner that the liquid can be readilytransported from the container as the liquid is being collected, and isalso directed to a wicking material applicator for use with such acontainer.

A container for collecting urine and transporting the collected urinevoided from a person's body is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,287,508 toRobert A. Sanchez. The container described in said patent is made ofplastic or some other material and defines a chamber for collectingurine. The container is closed, except for having an array of openingsthrough which urine can be drawn into the chamber for collection and atleast one outlet port through which urine can be drawn away from thechamber by a transport tube inserted into the chamber. The exterior ofthe container is configured for enabling a moisture-wicking article tobe secured over the array of openings and for enabling the securedmoisture-wicking article to be disposed in contact with the region of afemale body surrounding the urethral opening. A vacuum pump is attachedto the transport tube in order to create a partial vacuum in the chamberin order to draw urine into the chamber for collection of the urine andin order to draw the collected urine away from the chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a container for collecting liquid for transport,comprising: a shell having a port adapted for receiving tubing andconfigured to define a chamber that has a window in an exterior surfaceof the shell, with the window being so positioned that when a wickingmaterial, which is adapted to be applied against a particular source ofmoisture and which is so dimensioned that when the wicking material isreceived within the shell and applied through the window to theparticular source of moisture, the shell is at least partially closed sothat when tubing is inserted through the port into the shell chamber andthe shell is otherwise closed a partial vacuum can be created within theshell chamber to draw moisture into the shell chamber through thewicking material for collection as a liquid within the shell chamber fortransport from the shell chamber via the tubing.

In one aspect of the invention, the above-described container iscombined with a wicking material applicator that is adapted for sosupporting the wicking material that the wicking material can bereceived within the shell and applied through the window against theparticular source of moisture.

The invention also provides a wicking material applicator for use with acontainer for collecting liquid for transport that comprises: a shellhaving a port adapted for receiving tubing and configured to define achamber that has a window in an exterior surface of the shell, with thewindow being so positioned that when a wicking material, which isadapted to be applied against a particular source of moisture and whichis so dimensioned that when the wicking material is received within theshell and applied through the window to the particular source ofmoisture, the shell is at least partially closed so that when tubing isinserted through the port into the shell chamber and the shell isotherwise closed a partial vacuum can be created within the shellchamber to draw moisture into the shell chamber through the wickingmaterial for collection as a liquid within the shell chamber fortransport from the shell chamber via the tubing, wherein the wickingmaterial applicator is adapted for so supporting the wicking materialthat the wicking material can be received within the shell and appliedthrough the window against the particular source of moisture

The invention provides an improved container and an improved wickingmaterial applicator that are particularly configured and adapted forapplying the wicking material against a particular source of moisture.

The invention is particularly useful for persons or animals duringvarious circumstances. These circumstances include a condition such asincontinence or a disability that limits or impairs mobility. Thesecircumstances also include restricted travel conditions, such assometimes experienced by pilots, drivers, workers in hazardous areas,etc. These circumstances further include collection of urine formonitoring purposes or clinical testing.

Additional features of the invention are described with reference to thedetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a containeraccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the container shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a view of an exemplary embodiment of a sheet of materialhaving openings included in an exemplary embodiment of a wickingmaterial applicator according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of the exemplary embodiment of a wicking materialapplicator according to the invention

FIG. 5 is a view of the wicking material applicator shown in FIG. 4 withwicking material disposed about the applicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a container 10 accordingto the invention includes a shell 12 having a port 14 that is adaptedfor receiving tubing (not shown). The shell 12 is configured to define achamber 18 that has a window 20 in an exterior surface of the shell 12.

The window 20 is so positioned that when a wicking material 24, which isadapted to be applied against a particular source of moisture (notshown), and which is so dimensioned that when the wicking material 24 isreceived within the shell 12 and applied through the window 20 to theparticular source of moisture, the shell 12 is at least partially closedso that when tubing is inserted through the port 14 into the shellchamber 18 and the shell 12 is otherwise closed a partial vacuum can becreated within the shell chamber 18 to draw moisture into the shellchamber 18 through the wicking material 24 for collection as a liquidwithin the shell chamber 18 for transport from the shell chamber 18 viathe tubing.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the shell 12 is made of a compliantimpermeable plastic material, such as silicone.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the portion of the shell 12adjacent the window 20 is arched so that the wicking material can bebetter applied against the region of a female body surrounding theurethral opening.

An exemplary embodiment of a wicking material applicator 28 is describedwith reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The applicator 28 includes materialhaving symmetrical or non-symmetrical openings and formed to define anextended hollow framework about which the wicking material can be, oris, disposed. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, material 30,such as porous spun plastic or plastic netting material, having openings32, as shown in FIG. 3, is formed to define an extended hollow framework34, as shown in FIG. 4, about which framework 34 wicking material 24 canbe, or is, disposed, as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the material 30 isflexible polypropylene. In other embodiments, the material is nylon,polyester, some other plastic or a natural material.

Because the preferred framework 34 is flexible, the wicking materialapplicator 28 is compliant and is dimensioned accordingly to fit snugglywithin the shell chamber 18 so that the wicking material can be pressedthrough the window 20 against the particular source of moisture.

An exemplary method of assembling a wicking material applicator 28within the chamber 18 of the shell includes the steps of:

(a) disposing a wicking material 24, such as tubular gauze, about ahollow plastic pipe (not shown);

(b) inserting the pipe bearing the wicking material 24 into the shellchamber 18 through the port 14 in one end of the shell whereupon thewicking material 24 is positioned so that the wicking material 24 can beapplied through the window 20 against a particular source of moisture;

(c) forming a wicking material applicator 28 from material havingsymmetrical or non-symmetrical openings to define the extended hollowframework 34 that is shown in FIG. 4;

(d) inserting the extended hollow framework 34 through the pipe so thatthe framework 34 is coextensive with the wicking material 24; and

(e) removing the pipe from the shell chamber 18 while simultaneouslygrasping both the wicking material 24 and the extended hollow frameworkso that the wicking material 24 is disposed about the extended hollowframework 34 to provide an assembled a wicking material applicator 28that is so positioned that the wicking material 24 can be appliedthrough the window 20 against a particular source of moisture.

Alternatively, the wicking material applicator 28 is assembled outsideof the shell chamber 18 and is then positioned within the shell chamberby inserting the applicator 28 through the window 20 and flexing theshell 12 around and over the sides of the wicking material applicator28.

Preferably, the method of assembling the applicator 28 outside the shellchamber 18 includes the steps of

(a) disposing a wicking material 24, such as tubular gauze, about ahollow plastic pipe (not shown);

(b) flexing a sheet of the flexible material 30 to define the extendedhollow framework 34 that is shown in FIG. 4;

(c) inserting the extended hollow framework 34 through the pipe so thatthe framework 34 is coextensive with the wicking material 24;

(d) removing the pipe while simultaneously grasping both the wickingmaterial 24 and the extended hollow framework 34 so that the wickingmaterial 24 is disposed about the extended hollow framework 34; and

(e) while the wicking material 24 is disposed about the extended hollowframework 34, cutting a section of the so-disposed wicking material 24to the desired length to thereby provide an assembled a wicking materialapplicator 28.

In an alternative method of assembling the applicator 28 outside theshell chamber 18, wicking material such as rolled gauze is applied to asheet of material having openings and attached thereto with an adhesiveor by compression of a frame around the perimeter of the sheet. Assemblyof the wicking material applicator is then completed by shaping thesheet having the wicking material applied thereto into an extendedhollow framework and maintaining the shape of extended hollow frameworkwith adhesive or adhesive tape. Alternatively, the shape of the extendedhollow framework is maintained due to compression when inserted into theshell 12.

Different embodiments of a container for a urine collection deviceaccording to the invention are configured for use by both adult andpediatric applications, and for veterinary applications involvinganimals of different species and sizes.

The benefits specifically stated herein do not necessarily apply toevery conceivable embodiment of the present invention. Further, suchstated benefits of the present invention are only examples and shouldnot be construed as the only benefits of the present invention.

While the above description contains much specificity, these specificsare not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the presentinvention, but rather as examples of the embodiments described herein.Other variations are possible and the scope of the present inventionshould be determined not by the embodiments described herein but ratherby the claims and their legal equivalents.

1. A container for collecting liquid for transport, the containercomprising: a generally cylindrical shell shaped to receive a generallycylindrical wicking article and having a port in a first end adapted forreceiving tubing, a second end distal to the first end, a back surfaceextending between the first end and the second end, and a front surfacedistal to at least a portion of the back surface, the generallycylindrical shell defining a chamber and having two elongated edgesspaced inwardly from the front surface that at least partially define anelongated window opening in the front surface of the shell; wherein thegenerally cylindrical shell is shaped and defines the window openingpositioned on the front surface of the generally cylindrical shell suchthat when the generally cylindrical wicking article is received withinthe shell the generally cylindrical shell is at least partially closedso that when tubing is inserted through the port into the chamber, thegenerally cylindrical shell is otherwise closed and a partial vacuum iscreated within the chamber when a vacuum pump coupled to the tubing isactivated to draw moisture into the chamber through the generallycylindrical wicking article for collection as a liquid within thechamber for transport from the chamber via the tubing.
 2. The containerof claim 1, further comprising the generally cylindrical wickingarticle.
 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the generally cylindricalwicking article includes at least a porous material.
 4. The container ofclaim 2, wherein the generally cylindrical wicking article includes agenerally cylindrical wicking material support and a wicking material,wherein the generally cylindrical wicking material support is configuredto support the wicking material against a particular source of moisturethrough the window opening.
 5. The container of claim 4, wherein thewicking material is disposed around the generally cylindrical wickingmaterial support.
 6. The container of claim 4, wherein the generallycylindrical wicking material support includes a spun plastic materialand the wicking material includes gauze.
 7. A liquid collection system,comprising: a shell defining a chamber and a window opening, the shellhaving a first end, a second end distal to the first end, a portconfigured to receive tubing, a back surface extending between the firstend and the second end, a front surface at least partially distal to theback surface, and two elongated edges spaced inwardly from the frontsurface and that at least partially define the window opening on thefront surface; and a wicking article positioned within the chamber andincluding at least a porous material.
 8. The liquid collection system ofclaim 7, wherein the shell is substantially cylindrical.
 9. The liquidcollection system of claim 8, wherein the wicking article issubstantially cylindrical.
 10. The liquid collection system of claim 9,wherein the wicking article includes at least a support including theporous material and a wicking material in a tubular shape disposed onthe support, wherein the support is configured to support the wickingmaterial against a particular source of moisture through the windowopening.
 11. The liquid collection system of claim 10, wherein theporous material of the support includes spun plastic and the wickingmaterial includes gauze.
 12. The liquid collection system of claim 7,wherein the wicking article includes at least a support including theporous material and a wicking material disposed on the support, whereinthe support is configured to support the wicking material against aparticular source of moisture through the window opening.
 13. The liquidcollection system of claim 12, wherein the porous material of thesupport includes spun plastic and the wicking material includes gauze.14. The liquid collection system of claim 7, wherein the front surfaceextends between the first end and the window opening and extends betweenthe second end and the window opening.
 15. The liquid collection systemof claim 7, wherein the port is positioned at the first end of theshell.
 16. The liquid collection system of claim 7, further comprisingthe tubing extending through the port.
 17. A fluid wicking article foruse with a container for collecting fluid for transport that includes ashell having a window opening defined at least partially by twoelongated edges spaced inwardly from a front surface of the shell, thefluid wicking system comprising: a cylindrical support including aporous material; and a wicking material in a tubular shaped disposedabout the cylindrical support, wherein the cylindrical support isconfigured to support the wicking material against a particular sourceof moisture through the window opening of the shell with at least aportion of a surface of the wicking material spaced outwardly from thetwo elongated edges defining the window opening.
 18. The fluid wickingarticle of claim 17, wherein the porous material of the cylindricalsupport includes spun plastic.
 19. The fluid wicking article of claim17, wherein the wicking material includes gauze.
 20. The fluid wickingarticle of claim 17, wherein the porous material of the cylindricalsupport includes natural material having openings that allow fluid toflow therethrough.